Have your say on NSW Smart Places Charter

Communities, government agencies, place owners and industry are invited to have their say on how smart technology can shape roads, parks and infrastructure with public consultation now open for the draft Smart Places Customer Charter and draft Data Protection Policy.

The NSW Government is seeking feedback on these documents to ensure that the $45 million investment in the Smart Places Acceleration Program will deliver smart solutions, drive decision making and improve the quality of life for communities across NSW.

Group Deputy Secretary of Strategy and Innovation, Kirstie Allen, says the customer is at the centre of this experience and the Charter should reflect customer expectations while guiding the creation and management of smart places throughout metro and regional NSW.

“A smart place might be as simple as motion-sensitive lighting illuminating a park you walk through at night, or as complex as reducing traffic congestion through automated traffic light sequences,” Ms Allen said.

“The Charter relies on understanding people’s expectations about how smart places are created and managed across NSW. Feedback from communities, businesses and those implementing smart places is vital.

“It outlines the principles to be followed from the look and feel of smart places, to the way information is collected, stored, and managed and how people come together to use smart technology,” Ms Allen said.

Place managers across NSW cities and towns, private developers and educational institutions will be able to sign up to the Charter once finalised as part of their commitment to meet customer expectations.

Chair of the Smart Places Advisory Council, Dr Ian Oppermann, said the Charter includes a commitment to follow a Data Protection Policy that supports existing legislation.

“The policy provides practical guidance for smart place practitioners around managing data in accordance with privacy legislation and promotes transparency and trust,” Dr Oppermann said.

“All organisations signing up to the Charter will be encouraged to follow the Data Protection Policy as best practice.”

Both documents have been developed in close consultation with stakeholders and will be refined using feedback received during the exhibition period.

Public consultation will be open from today until 20 July 2021, with both documents available at: https://dpie.nsw.gov.au/smartplacescharter